Marking apparatus



May 20, 1958 J. K. JACKSON a1 Filed June 21, 1950 May 20, 1958 Original Filed June 21, 1950 J. K. JACKSQN MARKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVL'NTOR.

75H 20K100 B wM ATTORNEY May 20, 1958 J. K. JACKSON MARKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. m

g y fill/V \7/;CASG/V @XZWM ATTORNEY Original Filed June 21, 1950 y 20, 1953 J. K. JACKSON 2,835,195

MARKING APPARATUS Original Filed June 21, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 v R a mm) s kw ww m M %h) w mum mu E v 8m 1 In I I 1 1| 1 ,7, my Numfy I N r Mm i.\ W n N I m /f Q0. QM .II A H| L mm w '1 1 I I I 1 I i kw) H a 7/ .7), M W/ 4 I H M 1 N\1 lit mum m bu QR mu United States Patent Ofiiice 2,835,195 Patented May 20, 1958 MARKING APPARATUS John K. Jackson, Westfield, N. J., assignor,

assignments, to Adolph Gottscho, Inc., a corporation of New York by mesne Hillside, N. J.,

5 Claims. (11. 101-219 This invention relates to improvements in marking apparatus, and is particularly directed to apparatus for marking indicia in continuous or repeated patterns on a continuous roll, sheet, Web or strip of material, or for applying indicia to other desired surfaces or objects.

This application is a division of my application No. 169,369, filed June 21, 1950, and is now PatentNo. 2,641,999, issued June 16, 1953.

More specifically the invention is directed to marking apparatus for use with existing wrapping, cutting or similar machinery through which a continuous roll, sheet, web or strip of material, or other object to be marked is fed, which apparatus imprints a continuous or repeated pattern, trademark, code marking, date or the like on the material or object during the feeding of the latter through machinery of the character indicated.

One of the objects of the present invention resides in the provision of a marking or imprinting attachment for existing machinery through which a continuous web, sheet or strip of material, or object is fed, for printing continuous or repeated indicia or pattern thereon of uniform intensity and sharply defined clarity.

Another object is the provision of an attachment of the character indicated which operates on the principle of an aniline printing press for printing continuous or repeated indicia of uniform intensity and sharply defined clarity upon the continuous roll, sheet, web or strip of material, or object fed to or through existing machines performing operations thereon, and without interfering with such operations.

A further object is the provision of an attachment of the character indicated wherein the marking attachment includes means for controlling the printing pressure on the material or object being marked, and means for controlling the coating of printing ink upon the impression element or printing roller or cylinder.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a marking or printing attachment of the character indicated, wherein the contact of the impression or indicia bearingroller or cylinder with the sheet, strip or object to be marked is limited and the printing pressure may be efllectively varied; and wherein structure is provided for varying and controlling the transfer of printing ink to the impression roller or a printing impression of uniform intensity and sharply defined clarity.

. A further object of the invention is the provision of a printing or marking attachment of the character indicated embodying an improved system for transferring ink from the ink supply to the impression roller; which system includes an ink supply roller dipping into an ink fountain having a constantly maintained ink level therein,

a transfer or metering roller interposed between the ink supply roller and the impression roller or cylinder, and mechanism for adjusting the surface contact of the ink supply roller with the transfer or metering roller, and the surface contact of the latter cylinder to thereby provide with the impression roller,

, zontal upper edges of line 55 of Fig. 2; and

to thereby achieve the even distribution of ink over the impression roller or cylinder.

A still further object of the present inventionresides in the provision of a marking attachment of the chem acter indicated for existing machinery through which a continuous web or sheet of material, or object is fed, which attachment is simple in construction, sturdy and easily cleaned and otherwise maintained, and which attachment is adapted to be installed on a variety of machines of the type referred to above to thereby eliminate the necessity for subjecting the material or object to a separate marking or printing operation.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be manifest from the following description. and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational the present invention, shown of a wrapping machine;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus view of the apparatus of associated with a portion with parts shown in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on view taken substantially on Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 2. Referring to the drawings in detail, a marking or imprinting apparatus constructed according to one embodiment of this invention is illustrated and generally referred to by the reference numeral 10. This marking apparatus is shown as mounted upon a portion of a wrapping machine 12, for example, which machine forms no part of this invention, except insofar as it illustrates one of the many applications or uses of the apparatus of the present invention. It is to be understood that the marking apparatus 10 may be mounted upon any machine through which a continuous sheet, strip or web of material, or other objects or articles are fed, at a location where the material or object is exposed to permit the printing of indicia, pattern, trademark, code marking, or the like thereon.

The wrapping machine 12, of which the paper or other web or strip material supplying portion is illustrated, includes a pair of substantially triangular, spaced apart, vertically isposed side plates 14, having one apex thereof extending downwardly and supported on the remainder of 16, or similar fastening members, extending through flanges 18 formed on the lowermost apex of each side plate 14. A feed roll 22, providing a source of paper or other strip material P to be fed through the wrapping machine for marking, is rotatably journalled in upwardly opening notches 24 formed in the substantially horithe side plates 14 adjacent one end thereof. The paper or other material to be marked, in the form of a continuous web or strip is drawn off the roll 22 in the direction of the arrow and is extended under the guide roller 26, which is suitably journalled between the side plates 14; From the guide roller 26, the web P travels upwardly over and substantially around the backing roller 28 which is journalled between the side plates 14 and extends above the upper edges of the latter adjacent the ends thereof remote from the notches 24. From the backing roller 28, the paper P passes over the Wrapping device (not shown) by bolts While the roller 23 has been iden-' roller, similarly exposed, over which the strip of material passes in continuous fashion could be utilized, or adapted to be utilized as a backing surface for the marking apparatus. Where the existing machines do not include aroller such as 25;, but do advance the material or articles to be markedover a relatively rigid table, or .the like, then the latter may be utilized as the backing surface.

In the illustrated arrangement a plate 39, or similar supporting member for the marking apparatus 10, spans the top edges of the plates 14 between the opposite ends thereof. This marking or imprinting apparatus 10 includes a supporting base or stand 32, which in the illustrated embodiment of the invention is formed of a bottom plate 34 having the upstanding standards 36 and 38 extending from the opposite side edges thereof. The bottom plate 34 of the stand 32 is secured to the supporting member 36 of the wrapping machine by bolts 40 tapped into the member 30, or by similar securing means.

A frame, generally indicated at 42, is pivotally mounted upon the supporting base 32. The frame 42 includes a pair of substantially elongated, spaced apart, side plates 44 and 46. The standards 36 and 38 are disposed inwardly of the side plates 44 and 46, respectively. A pivot member 50, having a central portion 52 of relatively greater diameter extending rotatably through the horizontal bores 54 and 56 formed through the upper portions of the standards 44 and 46, is formed with reduced diameter threaded end portions 58 and 60 which extend through the plates 44 and 46 adjacent one end of the latter. Nuts 62 are threaded on the end portions 58 and 6t) and secure the pivot member 56 relative to the frame 42. A coiled torsion spring 64 extends about thecentral portion 52 of the pivot member, and has one end fixed to the pivot member 50 (Fig. 3). The other end of the spring 64 is fitted to a spring seat 6-6 which is fixed relative to the standard'38 by the set screw 53. A tubular cover 65 extends around the spring 64 to shield the spring and pivot member from foreign matter. The torsion spring 64 is so disposed as to tend to lift the end of the frame 42. remote from the pivot member 50. By loosening the nuts 62 and adjusting the angular position of the pivot member t relative to the plates 44 and 46, the force exerted by the spring 64 may be varied, to thereby regulate the printing pressure, as will be hereinafter described in detail.

The side plates 44 and 46 are secured together to form the unitary frame 42 by a plurality of cross-members 70, each of which includes a pair of cap screws 76 extending through the side plates, and into cross-members, with the caps of the screws '76 engaging the side plates whereby to urge the side plates against the ends of the cross-members 74) in clamping relation. In addition to the cross-members 70, a cross-member 78 disposed below the pivot member 50 similarly connects the side plates 44 and 46 at that point. The member 78 is formed with an increased diameter central portion 80 which forms a part of the mechanism for adjusting the priming contact. The central portion 80 extends loosely through the openings 82 and 84 formed in standards 36 and 38, so that the frame 42 may rock slightly relative to the supporting base 32. A lug 86 is formed on the bottom plate 34 of the base 32, and threadedly receives an adjusting screw 88 which bears against the portion 80 of the cross-member 78. By moving the screw 88 into and out of the lug 86, the limitation onthe downward move ment of the end of the frame 42 remote from the pivot 56 may be adjusted.

The plates 44 and 46 are formed with horizontally 92. Bearing covers 94 are secured to the side plates 44 and 46 and are formed with annular flanges 96 extending into the bearing receiving openings and abutting against the outer races of the bearings 96 for retaining the latter in place. A printing roller or cylinder 98 is formed with a hollow hub 106 disposed upon the shaft 92, and is fixed to the latter by a key 162. The peripheral surface of the printing cylinder 98 is provided with a pair of circumferentially extending, spaced apart, bearing ribs or flanges .164 disposed adjacent tothe opposite side edges thereof. The bearing ribs or flanges 104 form an annular recess 1% therebetween for receiving an impression or marking element 165 which is preferably of the adhesive type, but may be of any other suitable known type. The impression element is provided with the desired indicia with which the web P is to be marked. The supporting base 32 is so disposed on the machine to which the marking apparatus 10 of the present invention is attached, that the printing roller 98 is positioned for surface contact with the impression roller 28. The ribs 104 of the printing roller, and the adjustable screw 68 acting against the crossmember 73 determine the extent of contact of the impression element 105 on the printing roller 98 with the continuous web or sheet of material P passing over the impression roller 28. Similarly, the torsion spring 64, which tends to lift the plate roller 98 away from the impression roller 28, determines the printing pressure.

The driving of the several movable parts of the marking device, to be described hereinafter, is derived from the rotatable printing or plate roller 98, which may be driven in several ways. This printing rolier or cylinder may be rotated by frictional engagement of the ribs or flanges 104, having knurled surfaces, with the moving strip or web P, or by positive driving connection with the shaft of the impression roller 23, or with an auxiliary source of power, as by gears for example. When gears are employed to provide a positive drive one may be mounted on the shaft of the impression roller 28 and the other on the shaft of the printing roller 98. The teeth of the gears will slide slightly in mesh with each other during relative movement between the said rollers.

The marking device embodies an ink supplying assembly for evenly and continuously distributing a supply of printing ink onto the impression element ordies carried by the plate roller 98. The ink supplying assembly includes an ink reservoir 108 from which ink is fed to an open ink fountain 110, an inking roll 112 dipping into the open fountain and having surface contact with a metering roll 114 which engages the plate roller 98 for distributing the ink on the latter.- The ink reservoir 108 consists of a cylindrical transparent portion 116, open and threaded at one end, and 21 preferably metallic cylindrical portion 118 threadedly receiving the open end of the portion 108 to provide a closed container. The cylindrical portion 118 is provided with a filler opening 120 in the top thereof, which is sealed by the filler plug 122. The ink reservoir 108 is mounted on a transversely extending plate 124 extending across the top edges of the side plates 44 and 46 adjacent the ends thereof receiving the pivot member 50. The plate 124 is removably secured to the side plates 44 and 46 by the bolts 126 tapped into the side plates. An open ended transfer pipe 128 depends from the bottom of the portion 118 of the reservoir for conveying the ink to the ink fountain 110 disposed therebelow. A valve assembly 130 includes an internally threaded coupling 132 threaded into an opening formed in the portion 118 of the reservoir andaxially aligned with the transfer pipe 128. A valve stem 134 is provided with a threaded portion received by the coupling 132, an operating knob 136 secured to the outer end of the stern, and a conical valve member or plug 138 for setting upon the upper end of the pipe 128. This valve assembly serves to control the flow of ink through the transfer pipe 138, and particularly is employed to shut off the said flowduring removal of the container 116. The ink fountain 110 is formed of a substantially rectangular bottom 140, and an upstanding peripheral wall 142. The wall 142 and the bottom 140 meet in a thickened portion 144 at the forward end of the ink fountain, and a transverse shaft 146 extends rotatably through this thickened portion 144. The opposite ends of the shaft 146 are journalled in the side plates 44 and 46 and thereby provide a pivotal mounting for the ink fountain. A shaft 148 is disposed below substantially the center of the bottom 140 of the ink fountain 110, and an eccentric cam member 150 is fixed thereto. The opposite ends of the shaft 148 are journalled in the side plates 44 and 46, and the cam 150. engages the bottom 140 providing for the adjustment of the ink fountain. A knob 152 is fixed to one end of the shaft 148 for rotating that shaft and the cam 150.

Upstanding apertured lugs 154 are formed on the top edges of the side portions of the wal1142 of the ink fountain, and receive the opposite ends of the shaft 156 upon which a hub portion 158 of the inking rollis rotatably mounted. A set screw 160, extending into one of the lugs 154, engages the shaft 156 and secures the latter. The inking roll 112 includes a rim 162 on the hub 158, formed of rubber or similar material, and dipping into the ink fountain 110.

The metering roll 114 is rotatable about an axis par allel to the axes of rotation of both the plate roller 98 and the ink roller 112, and spaced upwardly therefrom. As will be apparent from this relationship, as the cam 150 is rotated to pivot the ink fountain 110 about the shaft 146, the contact of the ink roller 112 with the metering or transfer roller 114 will be varied. The metering roller 114 is formed with a ground chrome plated surface etched or engraved with fine lines or indentations for maximum wear and precision in transferring ink .to the impression element or die. The roller 114 is keyed to a shaft 164 having the opposite ends supported in the inner races of anti-friction bearings 166. The outer races of the bearings 166 are pressed or otherwise secured, in the bearing supports 168. Each bearing support 168 is formed with a cylindrical outer surface 170, a bore 172 through which the shaft 164 extends, and a counterbore 174 receiving the bearing 166. The bore 172 and the counterbore 174 are concentric with each other, and not concentric with the outer cylindrical surface 170. The outer surfaces 170 of the bearing supports 172 are rotatable in axially aligned circular openings 176 formed in the side plates 44 and 46. A flange 178 formed on each bearing support abuts against the outer surfaces of the side plates and is provided with a knurled or roughened periphery to facilitate the gripping thereof for rotating the bearing support 172 in the opening 176. Rings 180, secured to the inner ends of the bearing supports, prevent movement of the latter axially relative to the respective side plates, and are also provided with roughened peripheries for turning the bearing supports. Since the bearing supports 172 are independently rotatable in each of the side plates 44 and 46, the axis of rotation of the metering roll 114 may be adjusted relative to the axis of the printing roller 98 both angularly and with respect to the perpendicular distance therebetween. Therefore, the specific mounting of the metering roll provides a control of both the thickness of the ink coating deposited on the impression element or die, and of the equality of thickness of such coating across the width of the plates.

A scraping blade 182 mounted upon the upstanding wall 142 of the ink fountain engages the end edges of the metering roll 114 and the inking roll rim 162 to thereby remove excess ink from the rollers.

In order to provide a positive drive for the metering or transfer roll 114, the shafts 92 and 164 of the printing roller 98 and the metering or transfer roll 114, respectively, are extended through the side plate 44. A spur gear 184 is keyed or otherwise secured, to the extending portion of the shaft 92, and a smaller spur gear 186 is similarly secured to the extending portion of the shaft 164. A stub shaft 188 is tapped into the side plate 46, and a pinion 190 is rotatably secured thereon. The shaft 188 is so disposed as to mesh the pinion 190 with the gear 186 on the transfer or metering roll shaft 164. A second pinion gear 208 is rotatably mounted on another stub shaft 202 extending from the side plate 44, and meshes with the gear 184 secured to the plate roller shaft and with the pinion. 190. The gears 164, 200, 190 and 186 transmit rotation from the plate roller shaft 92 to the shaft 164 of the transfer or metering roll, with the respective shafts being rotated in opposed directions. The gears 152, 208, 190 and 186 are so positioned as to rotate the transfer or metering roll 114 at a peripheral velocity equal to the perippheral velic-oty of the impression roller or die carried by the printing roller 93. In order to provide a positive drive for the inking roll 112, the gear186 on the shaft 164 of the metering roll will mesh with a gear (not shown) keyed to the shaft of the inking roll 112. A cover 204 engages over the gears 152, 200, 190 and 186, and is removably secured to the side plate 46 by the threaded bolts 206 which are tapped into that side plate. The bolts 206 are provided with knobs having roughened peripheries to facilitate the removal thereof.

In operating the marking device described above, a supply of quick drying aniline printing ink of any color is introduced into the reservoir 108 through the filler opening 120. To prevent loss of ink during such filling of the reservoir, the valve 138 is seated upon the upper open end of the transfer tube 128. The level of ink in the reservoir may be observed through the transparent portion 116. The forming of the reservoir 108 in two separable portions 116 and 118 facilitate the cleaning thereof. After the filler cap or plug 122 has been replaced, the valve 138 is raised to thereby permit flow of ink into the ink fountain 110. Since the reservoir is sealed relative to the atmosphere, the ink will rise in the fountain only to a constant level determined by atmospheric pressure. This ink level will be higher than the lowermost portion of the ink roll 112, so that the latter will pick up ink during its rotation.

The adjusting screw 88, bearing against the crossmember 80, is adjusted to provide the desired contact between the impression element or die on the printing roller 98 and the Web or strip P passing over the impression roller 28. The torsion spring 64 is also adjusted to provide the desired [printing pressure. As the web or strip P is drawn over the impression roller 28, the knurled bearers 104 which frictionally engage the web or strip will effect rotation of the roller 98, and through the gears 164, 200, 190, and 186 rotation of. the transfer or metering roll 114 and the inking roll 112. As previously mentioned, instead of relying on the frictional engagement of the Web with the roller 98, a positive drive may be employed for the latter roller from the shaft of the roller 28, or some other source.

The contact of the transfer or metering roll 114 with the printing roller 98 is regulated by adjusting the eccen-l tric bearing supports 168, to provide a uniform ink coating of the desired thickness upon the impression element or die. The contact of the ink roll 112 with the metering roll 114 is regulated by adjustment of the fountain supporting cam which rocks the ink fountain 110 and the ink roller shaft 156 about the pivot 146.

The several adjustments provided in the described marking device for regulating printing contact, printing pressure, and the thickness and uniformity of the ink distribution on the impression element carried by the printing roller 98, along with the constant ink level in the ink fountain 110, achieve a printed impression of uniform clarity and sharpness.

It is to be understood, that while the device of the tnntlllttil present invention is adapted for use as an attachment for existing machines of the-character indicated, and has been so illustrated and described, the device is equally adapted for operation as an independent unit, in which event the sheet, web or strip after receiving the impression may be rolled up or folded for storage or subsequent use. It is also to be understood that the device of the present invention is adapted for marking articles and objects other than sheets or webs of material, such articles being fed to the impression element successively in any suitable or well known manner.

While I have illustrated and described one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A self-contained marking apparatus for applying repeated markings to a continuous Web on any machine handling such a web and having a support over which the web is advanced; said marking apparatus comprising a stand adapted to be secured on the machine handling the web that is to be marked, a horizontal pivot pin rotatably mounted in said stand, a generally elongated frame mounted at one end on said pin to extend substantially horizontally from the latter to the location of the support over which the web is advanced, means releasably clamping said frame to said pin so that normally said frame and pin turn together relative to said stand and to permit rotational adjustment of said pin relative to said frame, a marking roller rotatably journalled in said frame adjacent the other end of the latter and having bearer rims to frictionally contact the advancing web and impart the movement of the latter to said marking roller, a helical torsion spring disposed around said pivot pin and having its opposite ends secured to said pin and stand, respectively, to yieldably urge said frame to pivot about the axis of said pin in the direction opposed to the effect of the force of gravity with a force that can be altered by rotational adjustment of said pin relative to said frame, an abutment fixed on said frame at a location that is spaced radially from the axis of said pivot pin, and an adjustable stop bolt threadably carried by said stand with the axis of said bolt extending normal -to the radial plane from said abutment to said axis of the pin and with said bolt being engageable, at one end,

with said abutment to adjustably limit the angular move ment of said frame under the resultant of the forces due to gravity and said torsion spring.

2. A self-contained marking apparatus as in claim 1; wherein said frame includes two parallel, spaced apart side plates having cross-members extending therebetween, one of said cross-members defining said abutment, and said stand has openings therein through which said one cross-member loosely extends to be engaged by said stop bolt carried by the stand.

'3. A-sel'f-contained marking apparatus as in claim 1; wherein said marking roller includes an axially central portion and reduced diameterportions interposed axially between the opposite ends of said central portion and said bearer rims so that, when a marking element for applying an inked mark is secured on said central portion, ink transferred to the marking element is isolated by said reduced diameter portions from said rims to avoid smearing of ink on-the web by the bearer rims.

4. A self-contained marking apparatus as in claim 3; further comprising an ink supplying system including a metering roller, a metering roller shaft having rotatable shaft bearings receiving the opposite ends of the latter, rotatable bearingsupports on said frame having eccentric portions receiving said shaft bearings so that rotation of said bearing supports will regulate the contact of said metering roller with a marking element on said marking roller, an ink applying roller rotatably mounted in said frame to effect rolling contact with said metering roller, the axes of rotation of marking roller, ink applying roller and metering roller being disposed so that the angle enclosed by lines extending radially from the axis of said metering roller to the axes of said marking and ink applying rollers, respectively, is at least as large as 90 in all rotated positions of said bearing supports and so that said metering and ink applying rollers lie between the tangent to the marking roller at the point of rolling contact of the latter with the web and the tangent to the marking roller at a diametrically opposed location.

5. A self-contained marking apparatus as in claim 4; wherein said metering and ink applying rollers have radially enlarged central portions in rolling contact with each other and axially limited between the confronting faces of said bearer rims on the marking roller, said-metering and ink applying rollers being radially cut-back at opposite sides of said central portions thereof to prevent the deposit of ink from said ink applying roller on said bearer rims by said metering roller.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 596,653 Dick Jan. 4, 1898 918,464 McCarty Apr. 13, 1909- 1,102,627 Alexander July 7, 1914 1,226,243 OConner May 15, 1917 1,536,184 Ahlburg May 5, 1925 1,683,774 Haase Sept. 11, 1928 1,992,613 Hartley Feb. 26, 1935 2,186,555 Phillips Ian. 9, 1940 2,369,814 Worthington Feb. 20, 1945 2,424,606 Engler July 29, 1947 2,641,999 Jackson June 16, 1953 2,674,941 Hopwood et a1. Apr. 13, 1954 

